There are sci-fi epics, and then there’s Dune. Frank Herbert’s sprawling 600-page novel is an expansive work, with dangerous desert planets, tussling political hierarchies, marauding skyscraper-sized sandworms, and a looming prospect of war. And at the centre of it all is Paul Atreides, a noble youngster from House Atreides, thrust into danger, about to face the greatest challenge of his life. For both the treacherous desert of Arrakis and the young hero venturing into it, it had to be the real deal – hence visionary director Denis Villeneuve eschewing green-screen to shoot in the Wadi Rum desert, with Timothée Chalamet as his leading man.
“That part of the Wadi Rum is so awe-inspiring, you might as well be getting chased by that cliff in the background,” Chalamet told Empire. “It wasn’t a green-screen or anything. That’s one of the most thrilling parts of the book and the movie. We had the sketches. That was a lesson for me. On a Call Me By Your Name or Beautiful Boy it can be counterintuitive to see the storyboards because then maybe you limit yourself based on a camera angle or whatever. It’s the opposite [here] because, for a sequence with the sandworm chasing you, I could never imagine that.”
As seen in Empire’s world-exclusive Dune issue – on sale Thursday 3 September, and available to pre-order online now here – take a brand new look at Chalamet’s Paul Atreides, joined by Zendaya’s mysterious Fremen tribeswoman Chani, her eyes glowing blue from exposure to Arrakis’ precious resource, spice.
Paul’s father is Oscar Isaac’s Duke Leto, here seen in Atreides battle armour and joined by his master-at-arms Gurney Halleck, played by Josh Brolin.
And lending muscle to the Atreides clan is Jason Momoa’s Duncan Idaho, here wielding twin blades and showing exactly why he’s not to be messed with.
Stay tuned for more Dune exclusives from Empire coming soon, and pick up the issue – going on set to Arrakis and beyond, and talking to Villeneuve, Chalamet, Zendaya, Isaac, Momoa, Brolin, Rebecca Ferguson and more – on shelves from 3 September.
Pre-order a copy with free UK delivery now – choose the House Atreides cover here, the [Fremen cover here](https://www.greatmagazines.co.uk/empire-october-2020-cover-2?utm_source= dynamic&utm_medium=bws&utm_content=dunescover2&utm_campaign=empire_singles), or a discounted bundle featuring both editions here.